The Truth about Crating your Dog with Separation Anxiety

If you’re reading this post, the chances are you have a dog with Separation Anxiety who you are desperate to help feel better about being alone. Something you may have considered or have already tried is using a crate. Crates are one of the first things that are suggested when you Google ‘Separation Anxiety’, but is crating your dog with Separation Anxiety really such a good idea?

Crate training your dog (in gradual and fear-free way) is something I recommend every dog guardian does. I am not anti-crate, and I do believe they have their place – but this place is (in the vast majority of cases) not Separation Anxiety training. I’m a Certified Separation Anxiety Pro Trainer and run a business which specialises in helping guardians of dogs with Separation Anxiety regain their freedom and teach their dogs to be happy home alone. And I can tell you that crating for these dogs, should be the exception not the rule.

The vast majority of dogs with Separation Anxiety do much better with more space, not less.

This is not just my opinion, it is the truth. I’ve seen it in the dogs I’ve coached, and I am confident that any other qualified Separation Anxiety specialist will tell you the same thing. Every dog is an individual, and there are rare cases where dogs do well in crates for their Separation Anxiety training. But this is rare.

So if dogs with Separation Anxiety do better out of the crate, why is it that you so often see or hear crating recommended for your anxious dog? I’ve seen a few different arguments being made for why we should crate dogs with Separation Anxiety. Today, I’m going to break down the two most common reasons I see for this, and tell you the truth about crating your anxious dog.

The number one time I see crates being used or recommended for dogs with Separation Anxiety, is when the dog’s symptoms include destruction or toileting. If you’re regularly coming home to torn down blinds, chewed skirting boards and scratched doors then I completely understand why crating might seem like the only way to protect not only your home, but also your dog, from harm.

But whilst crating a dog with Separation Anxiety might mask some of their symptoms, this is not enough.

The reason your dog is being destructive or having accidents when home alone is not because they are simply being naughty or defiant, it’s because they are panicking. Crating doesn’t change how your dog feels about being alone, it only contains (and often adds to) their panic.

Imagine you feel anxious in busy places, and you get trapped in a crowded elevator. Now, instead of being anxious because you are in a large group, you’re panicking because you’re trapped amongst a large group of people, in a tight space with no way to escape. This is what it is can feel like for dogs with Separation Anxiety, who are left home alone in a crate. Repeated exposure to this can come with a huge psychological risk, as well as presenting a significant risk of injury to your dog’s mouth, teeth, paws and nails if they attempt to escape.

By using a sub-threshold approach to Separation Anxiety training, you will prevent your dog from experiencing panic whilst you build their tolerance to being alone. This means there will be no destructive behaviour to prevent, and therefore no need for a crate.

The other argument I see for why we should crate dogs with Separation Anxiety is that a crate will act as a safe, cosy den for your dog to relax and feel safe in whilst you’re out. This sounds great, but there are a few problems.

There is one key difference between a den and a crate – a den doesn’t have a door that cannot be opened.

Whilst some dogs do seem to enjoy curling up in small or dark spaces, this doesn’t necessarily mean they want to do this in a crate. And even if they do, it doesn’t mean they want to be shut in there with no option to leave. I recommend that you leave your dog home alone with access to a choice of their preferred resting spots. If your dog loves their crate then great, you can leave it open for them to come and go from as they please – but just don’t shut them in.

And remember, only your dog can decide what they see as a safe place – not you. Crates are not automatically safe spaces for our dogs, we need to teach them that. Many of the dogs I work with who have Separation Anxiety also struggle with confinement distress, and just find crating really difficult even with the best training plan in place. Trying to crate these dogs only adds another layer to their fear, and another layer to an already long and laborious training process.

My advice? Give your dog as much space as possible – even if your dog is destructive or toilets when they are frightened about being home alone. If you get this training right, you don’t need to worry. My individualised training programmes help your dog feel happier home alone by gradually exposing them to increasing levels of alone time at a pace they are comfortable with. This means they will never again be pushed to the point of destruction, and you can confidently leave them free-roaming knowing that they are relaxed and safe.

If you're struggling with your dog's Separation Anxiety, I'd love to help you with this. Book your Free Enquiry Call today to find out more and take the first step to regaining your freedom, and helping your dog to be happy home alone.